Several months ago, I blogged about the art company Retrospekt’s tribute to the Peanuts cartoon’s “Beagle Scouts” plotline (Snoopy as the leader of a troop of young woodsy birds). Retrospekt manufactured several “Beagle Scouts”-themed cameras and cassette recorders, designed to make you smile and willingly take your money.
Now at the time, I thought it was a cool feature, but it didn’t really capture my interest. Besides, I already have too many cameras.
Then again … Retrospekt didn’t give up on me.
Because now they’ve introduced a Charlie Brown-themed Polaroid 600 camera.
No, seriously.
This camera, manufactured using vintage Polaroid 600 camera parts and encased in this nice little chassis, is available at the Retrospekt site for only $179. And for an additional $35, you can get a little backpack to go with it.
And if that’s a bit too steep for your wallet, Retrospekt also offers a fully-loaded single-use 35mm Charlie Brown camera for the low, low price of $29.
Okay … this is intriguing me. I mean … I’ve rarely worked with Polaroid’s instant-developing film, and it might be kinda nice to show up at a photo event with a Charlie Brown-themed camera.
But … I mean … this is nice. Yes, it is. But it’s not designed for serious photographers. It’s designed for collectors. It’s designed for Peanuts collectors.
What’s next? Six months from now, will Retrospekt put out a Polaroid-themed camera that features Lucy’s 5-cent psychiatric booth? Or maybe a 35mm shooter that has a felt cover to represent Linus’ blanket?
Oh, wait, oh, wait, I got it – a deluxe Polaroid SX-70 clone from the 1970’s that, when it opens up, looks remarkably like Snoopy’s doghouse, complete with top viewfinder that shows the World War I flying ace taking on the Red Baron?
So I puttered around Retrospekt’s website, just in case I missed something to that effect … and …
Holy shit, they’re selling restored and renovated SX-70 cameras.
Including this $1,000 gold plated SX-70 camera with a sonar focusing attachment.
Holy Great Pumpkin, Batman…
Again … would I use that camera in the field? Probably not.
Would I want that camera on display in my home? Fuck, yeah.
Do I have $1,000 to toss toward Retrospekt to get one of those beauties? Not really.
Maybe someday, though …
Because you don’t have to add Charlie Brown or Snoopy to a camera to get me intrigued.
But get me some vintage Polaroid SX-70 film from back in the day, and let me fire it through that 24-karat gold plated beauty …
Even if it’s just one roll and even if it’s just one photo experience … and I’d be SO there.
And that would be a total security blanket for me. 😀
Chuck The Writer 